Landmark buildings recognized as China's 20th century architectural heritage

The Saint Sofia Cathedral in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Sept 24, 2015. [Photo/IC]

The Russian Orthodox Saint Sofia Cathedral in Harbin, Heilongjiang province was inscribed into the first edition of the 20th-Century Chinese Architectural Heritage List alongside 97 other sites recently.

Drafted by the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics and the Architectural Society of China, the list was issued in Beijing on September 29.

As a landmark of Harbin, 53.35 meter-high Saint Sofia Cathedral was built in 1907, covering 721 square meters. Built in the Byzantine style, the cathedral is an icon of the city. It was listed as a type I protected architecture in Harbin in 1986, and inscribed into one of the Major National Historical and Cultural Sites. The building was restored by the local government and regained its original elegant look in 1997.

Eastern European-style Jinjiang Hotel in Chengdu was another example of heritage architecture. The construction of the hotel started in 1958 and finished two years later. Its name was given by celebrated Chinese general Zhu De and military commander Chen Yi. Designed by Xu Shangzhi, the ivory building was a gift dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China.